In this podcast, Fr. Javier del Castillo reflects on the Annunciation of the Lord, as told in the Gospel for the Fourth Sunday of Advent, and invites us to contemplate and imitate Mary’s listening heart. Our expectation, preparation, and contemplation are heightened during these final days of Advent– this is true both as we prepare for the coming of Christ at Christmas and as we prepare to receive Christ in the Eucharist. Looking to the example of St. Josemaria, Fr. Javier explains that we can p...
Dec 19, 2020•34 min
In this podcast, Fr. Javier del Castillo reflects on St. John the Baptist to show how, like the saint, we can become active listeners of the Word in our hearts. In particular, this talk aims to persuade you to embrace a lifestyle where there is room for meditation on Sacred Scripture and spiritual reading, such as the lives of the saints and spiritual classics, that can help us grow in our interior lives. Among the recommendations in this talk are three steps to get started on your spiritual rea...
Dec 15, 2020•40 min
As we celebrate Gaudete Sunday, marking the halfway point of the Advent season, we are prompted to approach the manger scene in haste as we seek to discover the good news of our Savior’s birth. In this podcast, Fr. Javier del Castillo draws upon the birth of our Lord in a lowly manger to illustrate our brokenness and need of a Redeemer. He explains the three kinds of concupiscence – lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and pride of life – and looks at how we can overcome these temptations with t...
Dec 12, 2020•22 min
St. Josemaria Escriva made many pilgrimages throughout his lifetime seeking opportunities to encounter God and praying for his conversion and of the whole world. Today’s podcast commemorates the 50th Anniversary of St. Josemaria Escriva’s pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City from May 15-24, 1970. His pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, on the Hill of Tepeyac, is recognized as the longest and one of the most important pilgrimages in his life. In this...
Dec 11, 2020•29 min
Fr. Javier del Castillo continues our Advent podcast series reflecting on the call we receive at baptism to become a saint. In looking at the vocation of the twelve apostles, we see Christ choose ordinary men with defects and shortcomings to be instruments in the work of grace. Fr. Javier reminds us that the Lord works in all people through the grace of the Holy Spirit. Though we may notice our own individual shortcomings, if we are susceptible to the work of the Lord, we too can pursue our voca...
Dec 05, 2020•23 min
In this podcast, Msgr. Fred Dolan looks to the example of the Holy Family as a model of living out authentic virtue in every area of our lives. He reflects on the importance of being a witness to the love of Christ and shares practical examples of how we can create an environment at home that strengthens children in the fundamental areas of virtue: authentic piety, the use of technology, the need for silence, holy purity, and generosity. St. Josemaria explains: “If a man fosters and cultivates t...
Dec 01, 2020•22 min
Are you ready to open your heart to Jesus this Advent? Fr. Javier del Castillo begins our Advent podcast series reflecting on St. Josemaria’s simple instruction for a fruitful and peaceful Advent: “Open your own hearts to Jesus and tell him your story” (Christ is Passing By, no. 1). To understand how Christ enters into the lives of His people, Fr. Javier reflects on key gospel figures whose encounter with the Lord opened their eyes to new horizons and provided a source of countless graces to say...
Nov 28, 2020•25 min
As we celebrate Thanksgiving Day in the United States, Fr. Javier del Castillo reminds us in this meditation, as St. Josemaria Escriva often did, that we ought to thank God always by habitually making frequent acts of thanksgiving, acts of gratitude. Fr. Javier explains: "We were never asked by God to come into existence. Everything we have – our talents, our virtues, even our defects – all have been foreseen by God, allowed by God, and given to us by God so that we can fulfill the single missio...
Nov 24, 2020•28 min
The Solemnity of Christ the King is a day to celebrate and remember that "Christ, true God and true man, lives and reigns. He is the Lord of the universe. Everything that lives is kept in existence only through him" (Christ is Passing By, no. 180). On this feast we also end the liturgical year and begin to prepare for Advent and Christmas. In this podcast, Msgr. Fred Dolan reflects on St. Josemaria's approach to the spiritual life in which we must be open and willing to begin again. At the start...
Nov 22, 2020•24 min
Are you attune to the voice of God and open to the plans he has for you?In this podcast, Fr. Leo Agustina reflects on the life of Mary and the pivotal moment in which she changed the course of history through accepting her vocation as the Mother of God. Following in her example, we too must seek to make room in our heart for the Lord. Fr. Leo reminds us that it is first at home in our daily life where we discover our vocation which then leads us to discover holiness in the midst of the world. St...
Nov 17, 2020•30 min
In this podcast, Msgr. Fred Dolan shares a reflection on the standard of holiness which St. Josemaria characterizes by the following three points: holy intransigence, holy coercion, and holy shamelessness. He explains that we must form our heart and mind according to the gospel message so that we will have a firm foundation when confronted with opposition. We are encouraged to look to the example of the saints who were steadfast in seeking the truth despite facing opposing viewpoints. Inspired b...
Nov 10, 2020•27 min
The Church commemorates the faithful departed on November 2, praying in a special way for those in purgatory who remain in hope of entering the joy of heaven. In this podcast, part of our Day of Recollection resources for the month of November , Fr. Javier del Castillo shares examples of how we can remember and honor loved ones who have passed away and encourages us to remain steadfast in praying for the holy souls in purgatory. As we remember the faithful departed, we are reminded that life is ...
Nov 02, 2020•27 min
The Church celebrates the Solemnity of All Saints on November 1, honoring both the known and unknown saints. In this podcast, Fr. Leo Agustina shares a reflection inspired by the lives of the unknown saints and challenges listeners to pursue sainthood in the world today amid the joys and trials of daily life. As St. Josemaria explains: “Don’t wait until you are old to start becoming a saint. That would be a great mistake! Begin right now, in earnest, cheerfully and joyfully, by fulfilling duties...
Oct 27, 2020•29 min
What do authentic, faith-filled friendships look like? Reflecting upon the life of Pope Saint John Paul II, we see the witness of his authentic, faith-filled friendships come to fruition through his life of piety, trust in the Lord, and love of neighbor. In this podcast, Fr. Peter Armenio examines the life of Pope Saint John Paul II and draws inspiration from the personable interactions he shared with those close to him. By imitating the lives of the saints and pursuing a relationship with Chris...
Oct 20, 2020•32 min
Have you felt the desire to make a spiritual retreat but overwhelmed at how to begin? In this podcast, Fr. Javier del Castillo offers practical tips and suggestions to make the most of a spiritual retreat by eliminating distractions to avail ourself to the voice of Christ. He examines three purposes for a retreat: to re-kindle our love for God, to examine ourself in light of God’s love and truth, and to consider the life of our Lord by placing ourself within the Gospel. By making an annual spiri...
Oct 13, 2020•36 min
Are you living with the desire to become a saint? In this podcast, part of our Day of Recollection resources for the month of October , Fr. Peter Armenio shares spiritual insights from his experience of attending the canonization Mass of St. Josemaria Escriva in 2002. Reflecting back on this historic moment, Fr. Peter looks at the impact the life of St. Josemaria continues to have upon countless people throughout the world and reminds us to live out the gospel message in the ordinary moments of ...
Oct 06, 2020•32 min
October 2nd marks a special anniversary in the life of St. Josemaria Escriva, founder of Opus Dei. In this podcast, Fr. Javier del Castillo explains how God showed St. Josemaria his vocation to be the founder of Opus Dei and the prayers and circumstances that led up to that moment. Reflecting on this anniversary will help lead us to ask ourselves: “What does God want of me?” “What does He want me to do?” And, we learn practical ways in which we can answer those questions through our daily life a...
Oct 02, 2020•32 min
In this podcast, Fr. Javier del Castillo shares a reflection on the Holy Archangels–St. Michael, St. Gabriel, and St. Raphael–in preparation for the feast of the Holy Archangels on September 29. As we reflect on the tasks of the angels in the history of salvation, we are encouraged to strengthen our own devotion to the angels, especially through the example of St. Josemaria Escriva. St. Josemaria explains: “We must spend our life completely in the service of the Lord. If our desire for holiness ...
Sep 29, 2020•29 min
In this podcast, Fr. Justin Gillespie reflects on true friendship as a rare and precious gift. While it is a gift, friendship is also something that we need. Jesus provides it, and by praying about what true friendship is, we can rediscover the vital importance of friendship with Christ. St. Josemaria explains: “God never abandons us. It is not a proper Christian attitude to look upon friendship with God only as a last resort. Do we think it normal to ignore or neglect the people we love? Obviou...
Sep 22, 2020•31 min
In this podcast we rebroadcast a cherished meditation from the first five years of the St. Josemaria Institute Podcast. This reflection from Msgr. Fred Dolan leads us to consider our own relationship with Mary, through whom we are led closer to the heart of Christ. As St. Josemaria Escriva wrote: “Today as in other times, the rosary must be a powerful weapon, to enable us to win in our interior struggle and to help all souls. Exalt holy Mary with your tongue: God asks you for reparation, and for...
Sep 15, 2020•25 min
In this podcast, Fr. Peter Armenio reflects on Mary’s title "Mother Most Amiable", showing us how Mary invested in the lives of others as true friends. As we reflect upon the Visitation and the Wedding Feast at Cana, it is evident to see the genuine concern and authentic love Mary has for those around her. These stories offer inspiration and encouragement for us as we foster holy friendships in our own lives and seek to imitate the joyful example of our Blessed Mother, Mary. St. Josemaria explai...
Sep 08, 2020•29 min
Do you find yourself lacking resilience in the spiritual life, often resulting in taking “two steps forward, one step back” when it comes to your relationship with Christ? In this podcast, part of our Day of Recollection resources for the Month of September , Msgr. Fred Dolan reflects on confronting the struggles we face in strengthening and maintaining our relationship with God. Drawing upon the lives of the saints, he reminds us of the importance in establishing a plan of life to foster discip...
Sep 01, 2020•28 min
In this podcast, Fr. Javier del Castillo shares a meditation inspired by the phrase, “an hour of study, for a modern apostle, is an hour of prayer” (St. Josemaria Escriva; The Way , no. 335). Approaching academic learning as a form of prayer is not a way of life designed solely for students. Rather, it is a way of life that all Christians should adopt as it helps us develop a stronger worldview. Fr. Javier discusses how to approach Scripture, the lives of the saints, and the writings of the Chur...
Aug 25, 2020•36 min
Do you have the desire and goal to love others well? In this podcast, Fr. Peter Armenio reflects on sharing the love of Christ with those we encounter each day: among our family, friends, and colleagues. He explains that to love others well, we must first deny ourself by embracing our daily struggles and sacrificing for the good of others. As we transform our disposition toward our challenges, we can become more receptive to the grace attained through charity. St. Josemaria explains: “Charity is...
Aug 18, 2020•20 min
In this podcast, as we celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Fr. Javier del Castillo revisits the dogma of the Assumption, discusses St. Josemaria’s devotion to Our Lady, and explains how we too can participate in the mystery of the Assumption. St. Josemaria explains: “As we meditate on these truths, we come to understand better the logic of God. We come to realize that the Supernatural value of our life does not depend on accomplishing great undertakings suggeste...
Aug 14, 2020•29 min
In this podcast, Fr. Justin Gillespie shares some considerations on ways that we can speak to our Lord in the stillness, in the silence, of being present in his presence in the Eucharist. He also reminds us to call upon the Blessed Virgin Mary for help and guidance as we make efforts to improve our relationship with God and in turn improve our lives. Support the show THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! Let us know that our podcast is important to you: Share your favorite episodes with others and leave us a...
Aug 11, 2020•26 min
What is the vocation of a priest, and how can we as the lay faithful support them in their path of life? In this podcast, as we celebrate the feast of St. John Vianney, Fr. Javier del Castillo explains why priests need our prayers and reflects on the four characteristics of a priestly soul according to St. Josemaria Escriva. St. Josemaria explains: “The Church needs priests, and always will. Ask the Blessed Trinity for them each day, through Holy Mary. And pray that they may be cheerful, hard-wo...
Aug 04, 2020•29 min
Has anyone ever told you to let go and let God? In this podcast, Fr. Javier del Castillo shares a reflection on the Gospel scene in which Martha welcomes Christ into her home (Luke 10:38-42) and reveals to us the meaning of letting go and letting God into our lives. In the Gospel passage, we notice Martha become caught up in the activity and details of serving Christ which inhibit her from fully enjoying the presence of Christ in her home. This theme is echoed in society today with a strong push...
Jul 28, 2020•33 min
Why is marriage important to society today? And, what distinguishes a healthy marriage from one that is in serious trouble? On this podcast, Msgr. Fred Dolan reflects on the Sacrament of Marriage and how it is the cornerstone to society and the image of the eternal love between Christ and his Church. Marriage is the pathway for spouses to lead one another to heaven. For a marriage to flourish, it must be grounded so that each spouse is able to see the other as God sees him or her. Spouses must s...
Jul 21, 2020•29 min
Amid the challenges of your day, do you find God there with you as a Loving Father? In this podcast, Fr. Peter Armenio shares a reflection on the fatherly love of God and the joy we can experience when we live in proper relationship with him. This timely meditation speaks to the challenges present in society and inspires listeners to be a reflection of the love of God in the world today. St. Josemaria explains: “Charity is not something we ourselves build up. It invades us along with God’s grace...
Jul 14, 2020•30 min
